1914
Thev Group took over the Stevenson Dry Dock from the Albion
Dock company which they have operated successfully ever
since
1915
Pearmain and Co was founded as the electrical division of
the group with the same partners under the management of
Douglas Pearmain. The Morris Car Agency was taken over and
was backed up by modern garage facilities. Taylor &
Smith together with the other two stevedoring companies,
D’Hotman & Sons and Desmarais Brothers, formed
the amalgamation of Stevedoring companies. The agreement
covered the common use of working gear, plant and a pool
of specialized stevedores. In order to further develop good
labour relations & general efficiency, the group together
with other port operators formed The Federation of Port
and Harbour Employers.
1919
George Taylor, after having served his time at sea as an
Engineer officer followed by a period as an Engineer Inspector
at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich and with Vickers Armstrong
Shipyard, joined the Group as a partner. He was the eldest
son of Alexander Taylor and the father of Dennis Taylor.
1921
Duncan Alexander Taylor, George’s brother followed
into the group.
1929
Alexander Taylor, main founder of the present day Taylor
Smith Group died aged 73. George Taylor took over the management
of the shipyard. Percy Henry Taylor youngest son of Alexander
Taylor, joined the group as a partner with special responsibilities
for stevedoring. His nine years service experience in the
Merchant Navy standing in good stead.
1939-1945
George Smith, George Taylor & Percy Taylor, together
with Douglas Permain & James Haigh(died 1941) kept the
group’s essential services going during the difficult
war years.
1946
James Smith & Denis Taylor (only son of George Taylor),
both newly qualified engineers when war broke out, returned
to Mauritius after demobilization from the Royal Navy to
join the Taylor Smith Group. Duncan Taylor and Ian Smith
returned from the army.The management structure at this
time was enlarged.
Having established the new management structure, George
Anderson Smith retired. Donald Alistair Taylor , second
son of Duncan Taylor joined the group as a junior partner,
having spent time in UK studying Electrical Engineering
at Faraday House, London.
1950
Dennis Taylor formed a building division within Taylor Smith
& Co. This division was later taken on by Dennis Taylor
and new partners and named General Construction Company
Ltd.
1952
Taylor Smith Group joined Rogers & Co Ltd, Desmarais
Bros Ltd and Blyth Bros Ltd to form the Mauritius Hotels
Group, an important step marking the birth of the tourist
industry in Mauritius. The Taylor Smith Group was represented
on the board of Mauritius Hotels first by Dennis Taylor
and then by Ian Smith.
1961
Derek James Alexander Taylor, eldest son of Percy Taylor,
joined the group after 10 years at sea with the Clan Line
Steamers of Glasgow, during which he obtained his Master’s
certificate. He joined the stevedoring part of the business.
Ian
Smith awarded OBE for public services.
1964
George Taylor retired aged 74. His son Dennis Taylor took
over the Management of Taylor Smith & Co, with James
Smith as Vice Chairman and Assistant Manager. About this
time a significant reorganization and re-equipment of the
ship building side of the business took place. The shift
from timber construction to steel was an important one.The
first two steel hulled tugs were launched. In subsequent
years many vessels were built in this way.
1967
Captain Yves Betuel, Master Mariner joined Taylor Smith
& Co as Dock-Master.
1968
Percy Henry Taylor retired aged 66. Chairmanship and management
of Taylor & Smith and Port Louis Water Supply Co was
passed on to Ian Smith.
1970
Taylor & Smith acquired a majority share holding in
Desmarais Brothers. This consolidated the Group’s
stevedoring interest and gave a controlling interest in
Colonial Steamships. It also increased the Group’s
interest in Mauritius Hotels Ltd. A development certificate
covering a period of 4 years was granted to the Marine yard,
at the same time the new company holding the certificate
was formed, Taylor Smith & Co ltd.
1971
The
Taylor Smith Group acquired the shares of Lohnro in Rogers
& Co ltd.
1973
Ian Smith and Dennis Taylor were appointed directors of
Rogers & Co Ltd: Ian Smith as Vice Chairman: James Smith
and Derek Taylor were appointed as alternate directors.
Tim Taylor elder son of Dennis Taylor joined Rogers Group
as an economist, concentrating on new developments.
1977
James Alexander Smith retired and Tim Taylor joined the
various Taylor Smith boards. Stevedoring & Associated
Services (Mauritius Ltd was formed as a holding company
by three stevedoring companies. This company was controlled
by Taylor & Smith Ltd and formed Container Services(Mauritius)
Ltd as a container depot on a fifty fifty basis with united
Docks.
1978-1980
The
federation of Port and Harbour employers commissioned Scruttons
Ltd of London to advise on new cargo handling methods to
be adopted. This was based on the complete revolution that
was taking place due to sugar being shipped through the
bulk sugar terminal which was under construction and the
advent of deep water quays and containerisation . Scruttons
report was adopted, and they were further commissioned to
assist employers in implementation.
In 1980 the bulk sugar terminal became operationel. This
and the other changes in port operations resulted in more
than 2000 workers being made redundant. After considerable
unrest in the port, generous redundancy terms were finally
agreed. It was a difficult time for employers who received
no compensation for the loss of sugar operations.
1983
Important changes were made on the Board of Directors of
Rogers. Sir Emile Series was appointed chairman. Tim Taylor
and George Coombes joined Dennis and Derek Taylor on the
board of Rogers. The three stevedoring companies together
with the United Docks and Noel Frères’ were
nationalized and Mauritius Marine Authority took over all
cargo operations.
1984
In January, Derek J. Taylor was appointed Chief Executive
of the Rogers Group replacing Christian Couacaud. Important
and effective changes in the structure and management were
initiated. New methods of financial control with a view
to improving efficiency and profitability were introduced.
Consolidated Cargo Services (Mauritius) Ltd went into voluntary
liquidation. It had been set up to undertake the cargo operation
of the port.
1989
Taylor Smith & Co Ltd resumed its former activities
by taking back its assets, liabilities, workers and staff
from Associated Engineers Ltd, and began operating as an
integrated marine yard again. Capt Yves Betuel took over
the overall management of the Dry Dock and Engineering divisions,
with Dennis Taylor as Chairman.
1990
Tim Taylor was appointed Divisional Director in charge at
Rogers Commercial and Light Industrial Division and George
Coombes was responsible of the Engineering and heavy industrial
Division. Colin Taylor, elder son of Derek Taylor, joined
Taylor Smith & Co Ltd. He has a BSc (Hons) degree in
Production Engineering and an MSc in Business Administration
at Imperial College, London.
1992
Colin Taylor appointed director of Taylor Smith & Co
Ltd. Philip Taylor second son of Derek Taylor with a BSc
in Hotel Management from the University of Surrey joined
Rogers Group.
1993
Taylor Smith & Co Ltd expanded and considerably improved
its mechanical workshops and started rotomoulding of plastic
materials.
1995
Captain Yves Betuel retired from Taylor Smith & Co Ltd
and Colin Taylor took over as Managing Director.
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